Targeted Poverty Alleviation in Liangshan Bears Tangible Results

LIANGSHAN Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province brims with fruit harvests during the months of autumn. In the apple industry demonstration park, located in Huay-ang Village of the prefecture’s Yuexi County, more than 27,000 apple seedlings just planted last year on the stretch of 34.6 acres have all borne fruits.

- MA LI

In the early morning of August 26, local villagers Jiwu Musha and his wife got up and started their busy daily routine while their children were still asleep. Jiwu Musha was going out to weed the apple park on the hillside, and his wife was going to feed the sows that were about to deliver babies behind their house.

The couple have four children. Due to a congenital genetic cause, both of their two sons have class-one physical disabilities. Although the boys have become teenagers already, they are still incapable of looking after themselves. One of the daughters is 11 years old and attends fourth grade at the Beicheng Primary School in Yuexi County. Their younger daughter is scarcely one year old. Supporting the four kids is not an easy job for the rural couple; and the boy’s disability makes the family’s situation even worse.

“Thanks to the assistance of cadres designated here for poverty alleviation, during the last two years, our predicament has been greatly relieved. My two disabled sons obtain health insurance now. When odd jobs are not available, I can work in the apple park. The flexible and pretty easy work brings me a daily income of RMB 80,” said Jiwu Musha. He told China Today that with the help of the Yan’an-based China Executive Leadership Academy his family’s income has increased significantly over the last two years. Two years ago, the whole family moved into a new house, last year they built a clean and neat kitchen, and then this year they bought a new electrically operated tricycle. The family’s life has really taken a turn for the better.

Apple Industry Prevents Relapse into Poverty